The Bruin- April/ May 2014 by Wadsworth Bruin

Wadsworth High School

Newspaper II/III

april/may 2014

The

BRUIN

1870 - 2014 Wadsworth City Schools: “Celebrating 143 years of Excellence in Education”

Volume XXXVIV No. 7

Last Day of School: May 29

625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

$1.00

Farr named Teacher of the Year BY HANNAH STUDENIC

As the Fine Arts Assembly presented many awards to talented individuals, the most anticipated award was saved for the end. Teacher of the Year is a very prestigious honor given to only the best teachers of WHS. This tradition has been around for decades, and it does not seem to be ending anytime soon. This year, Michelle Farr earned the most distinguished Teacher of the Year award. Each year, a new teacher is chosen by the National Honor Society after nominations from the teaching staff and student body. Teacher of the Year is a way of showing appreciation for what teachers do for WHS students. Like many teachers, Farr goes above and beyond to educate her students. However, Farr’s attention to student success has made her stand apart from many other teachers. Farr teaches Algebra 2 and Integrated Math 3. In addition to teaching math, she just

finished her last year as girls cross country coach and the boys track distance team coach. As a child, Farr was raised with two younger siblings on a farm in Medina, Ohio. After changing her major five times, Farr earned her teaching degree at Bowling Green University. She became interested in teaching math after tutoring a peer in college. Although she had hated the subject in high school, she decided that she was able to explain it very well. “The fact that I hated math, and the fact that I struggled,” said Farr, “allowed me to excel.” Farr’s teachings have left a long-lasting impact on many. Kyle Joseph, 12, had this to say about Farr: “She was the only one worried about me dropping out, and she cares more about me.” Farr cares deeply about each student, saying her favorite thing is to “watch their self confidence grow and see how it affects their learning.” Farr, unlike many teachers in

What is your reaction to the recent attacks on schools?

“These attacks have made me think about what I would do if an intruder entered the building.” -Connor, 10

“It is scary to think about if it were to happen. However, I feel safe in our school.” -Sam, 9

“It is unfortunate that people are not guaranteed a sense of safety in our building. High school is a place of education and development, not fear and insecurity.” -Elaine, 11

“The recent attacks in schools have brought much concern to me in school safety.” -Brady, 10

Inside

the

Bruin:

Fine Arts Assembly brings color to its audience – page 8 Students showcase talents in the arts Barbecuing Hamlet lights up stage Drama department features spin on William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet

– page 8

Stressed out? How to prepare for the stress of finals

– page 18

Farr is stunned to see her family arrive to congratulate her on receiving the Teacher of the Year award.

Quintin Douglas’ (12) opinion, “does not stop teaching when the lesson is done, and she wants to see you succeed.” Farr has changed many students’ opinions on school and their lives. When not teaching, Farr works diligently to coach her cross country and track teams. Her love for running has not only catapulted her to become an excellent coach, but it has been a major outlet for her. After losing her father and running partner, Farr looked to running to help her in tough times. This adversity has led Farr to challenge herself in many aspects. Farr is not only the Teacher of the Year, but she is a role model to many students. Receiving this award is very special to her because her, “seniors do not do what is required, but they took the extra time to do this for me.” Farr encourages everyone to be patient with others and believe in yourself. Farr has made a long lasting impact in and out of the classroom setting.

Below: Farr poses for a picture at the Fine Arts Assembly with her family after receiving the Teacher of the Year award. PHOTO BY ALEX LENC

PHOTO BY JESSICA DOHERTY

Violence in schools on rise BY ROBERT HAHN

School is supposed to be a place where everyone feels safe and where everyone has the opportunity to contribute his or her opinion. Recently, schools have become an epicenter to violent attacks on innocent people. Attacks such as those on Sandy Hook Elementary, Virginia Tech, and Chardon High demonstrated the increased amount of disturbances. These arbitrary shootings and knifings illustrate the amount of bullying taking place in schools all over the country. According to James Garbarino, professor of psychology at Loyola University Chicago and author of “Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them,” the problems facing the people who commit these crimes are not uncommon. These include depression

and anger about feelings of rejection and exclusion. Many of them have had concerns about their mental health. Some sporadic event usually pushes them over the edge. Another problem is easy access to weapons. Whether from the gun safe in their basement or from an unauthorized dealer, kids can easily garner the use of firearms. This presents a terrible opportunity for disturbed kids to take out their anger. Although playing violent video games may not necessarily determine violent or aggressive behavior, it may increase precursors to violent behavior. In fact, Dr. Cheryl Olson, an internationally known expert on the effects of electronic media on children, points out that violent video games may be related to bullying, which researchers have found to be a risk factor for more serious violent behavior. The combination

index Page Editorial.........................................................2 News.............................................................3 Opinion......................................................6,7 Ads ..................................................4,5,12,13 Picture Pages .........................................10,11 Features........................................................8 Entertainment............................................... 9 Sports.....................................................14,15 Community.............................................16,17 Health..........................................................18 Of the Month...............................................19 Speakout.....................................................20

of these elements provide the perfect mixture for an attack. Wadsworth schools have taken its own measures to prevent any of these attacks from happening, predominately in a program dubbed “ALICE” training. The program outlines three basic options in case of an attack: run, hide, or fight. The program’s policies sharply contrast old lockdown procedures. Now when an attacker is in the building, students and teachers can fight back with books, chairs, and even desks if the situation is dire enough. “I feel so much safer now that we practice the ALICE techniques,” said Sydney Neugebauer, 10. Recently, Medina High School joined the growing list of schools practicing the ALICE techniques. School systems all around the country are stepping up and attempting to alleviate the problem.

Memorial *Issue Day 4Tribute withdrawn on Sept. 4, 2008

The Boy with the Leaky Boot Statue will be unveiled on May 26 at 10 a.m. during a dedication ceremony at the Gazebo.

Visit the Bruin Online at http://www.bruinonline.org

April/May 2014

Finish Strong

Editorial

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” -Seneca As you all know from the recent Fine Arts Assembly, I was lucky enough to be chosen as the next Editor-in-Chief of the Bruin. I was certainly well prepared by my senior editors, and about a month ago, I saw the opportunity to become the leader of this staff for my senior year. I knew it was my destiny to relentlessly pursue this position. I was ready to take the next proverbial step from a writer. Even though I enjoy writing and am pretty decent at the craft, I wanted more. I wanted this Editor-in-Chief job, and at the end of the day, I was chosen. However, it is not all about me. As the great MVP basketball player, Kevin Durant, once said,

“You the real MVP.” Yes, I am talking to all of you avid Bruin readers and subscribers out there. All of you are the ones that make this Newspaper what it is. I greatly appreciate all of your patronage, and I promise you that next year’s issues will be the best they have ever been. It does not stop there. All of my peers on this staff have been instrumental in my success in this class. I look forward to working with all of you next year, especially all of the other editors: Maddie, Rachel, Trent, Maria, Ben and Moira. Most of all, I would like to give a special thanks to none other than THE John Gramuglia. Although he can really drive me crazy at times, he is the one that put his faith in me to run this Newspaper. He has been supportive and motivational the whole way, and he always pushes me to strive for greatness.

E ditorial

The Bruin

Grindz our Gearz

A dual-write of what really makes us mad BY ADAM DENNISON AND ALEX LAIKOS

1. TVs in the lunch room that still do not work There have been two brand new flat screen TVs in the lunch room for over a year now. How is it that the TV in the senior commons is working fine, yet the two in the lunch room can only seem to play a slide show about the lunches? 2. People who blame everything on everyone else There are too many people in this world who refuse to take the blame for their actions and find a way to blame it on someone else. You hurt yourself and others by finding the easy way out by blaming someone else. The greatest people to ever walk this earth accepted failure and learned from it. 3. Couples that say goodbye like they are never going to see each other again The class periods are less than 50 minutes. You

do not need to say goodbye and hang all over each other like it is the last time you will ever speak. This is high school. You will live. 4. When people forget to like my pictures on Instagram Everyone knows that you are supposed to like someone else’s photo if you want them to like yours in return. So why is it that one person can like everyone’s photos, but they do not get any likes in return? Play by the rules. 5. When you forget your coupons You are at the register after finding everything you want. Then all of the sudden, you realize you left your coupons at home. Talk about ruining a day. 6. Morning people who are up in the faces of non-morning people No one minds if you happen to be one of those people who are alert at 7 A.M., but if you happen to be, you do not have to be up in everyone’s face.

and that is what grindz our gearz

Reactions to blizzard bags

Blizzard Bags were somewhat nonsense. I honestly would have rather came to school for an extra three days than have to do these things again. They were not an educational experience for me, because I did them last minute and tried to do them as quickly as I could. To me, it was like a bad and boring review session at home on a beautiful day. The only part of the Blizzard Bags that I liked was that most of them were able to be done right on your computer. Jake Braumbaugh, 10 I thought the Blizzard Bags were a good alternative instead of going to school for a few extra days. I really hated doing them, but I know I will be very appreciative when I will not have to be at school in June. Although they were not too bad, I think some of the things they had us do were irrelevant. I think this is because some teachers had us doing OGT practice and midterm reviews when we had already completed both of those earlier in the year. I think our school should continue to use the Blizzard Bag system because nobody wants to go to school for extra days. Brady Dearth, 10

The Blizzard Bags were a little time consuming, but I got a lot out of them. I learned many new things on each subject. I thought Blizzard Bags were a much better way to handle snow days instead of making up all of those days in school at the end of the year. Matthew Galek, 9 Blizzard Bags were a complete waste of my time. I would have much rather gone to school an extra three days than do all of that work for, basically, nothing. I had a total of 21 Blizzard Bags which included eight multiple-paged essays. I put a lot of time and effort into my Blizzard Bags only to get nothing but a check mark on my paper back in return. I spent more time and effort on them than on the work we were currently learning and working on. Laine Rooks, 11 I believe Blizzard Bags were a good idea to make up the days, but I think students should have gotten the choice to make up days, do the Blizzard Bags, or extend the days. Some of them were too much work. The assignments given were not something we would have done

in class. Some of the assignments took hours to do and others took 30 minutes. I believe every one of them should have taken around 45 minutes, the amount of time we have in class each day. It will be nice not having to make up the extra days in June. Having the Blizzard Bags done now, I think it was worth doing them to get out of school on the original date. Tyler Vaughan, 11

I honestly disliked the Blizzard Bags. I thought it was a lot of work to do on top of the other homework we had. I also disliked that one of the three weeks we had to do them in was Spring Break because I went on vacation. Overall, I would have rather just gone to school the extra three days. Lauren Bennett, 9 This year, weather was not a friend to school districts. The alternative to making up the extra days in June was to give out Blizzard Bags. I felt teachers were just as confused as the students about the purpose of the work. Some teachers gave the proper amount of work, but other teachers just assigned busy work. These assignments were pointless, in my

Bruin Staff Editor-in-chief: Mason Egleston Associate Editor: Maddie Capron Assistant Editor: Rachel Haas Managing Editors: Ben Bingham, Trent Cornacchione, Moira Priest, Maria Sansonetti Marketing Managers: Olivia Fortner, Moira Priest, Maria Sansonetti Front Page: Page Editor: Hannah Studenic Reporter: Robert Hahn Editorial: Page Editor: Adam Dennison Reporter: Alex Laikos Entertainment: Page Editor: Noah Murphy Reporters: Chase Pegrim Speakout: Page Editor: Connor Gray Reporter: Tim Knipl Opinion 1: Page Editor: Alexandra Calvin Reporter: Rachel Pressley Opinion 2: Page Editor: Charlotte Boland Reporter: Madison Quinn Health: Page Editor: Madison Schmidt Reporter: Gary Noe News: Page Editor: Elizabeth Heckler Reporter: Haylee Kupiec Features: Page Editor: Annie Godin Reporter: Maggie Presson Picture Page 1: Editor: Alex Lenc Reporter: Cameron Mendel Picture Page 2: Editor: Sydney Bowers Reporter: Regan Szalay Sports 1: Page Editor: Jack Merhar Reporter: Noah Baughman Sports 2: Page Editor: Dan Weinerman Reporter: Zach Looser Of The Month: Page Editor: Sarah Hoffman Reporter: Nate Lockwood Ads/Business Manager: Adam Dennison Assistant: Alex Laikos Adviser: John Gramuglia

opinion, because it was nothing like a regular day in the classroom, and the students received no real benefits. I like the idea of Blizzard Bags because the students would not have to make up extra days at the end of the year. However, it would have been nice if the seniors could have been exempt from these days because they would not have had to make up the snow days in June. Overall, Blizzard Bags saved the district a lot of money by having schools not be open an extra three days. I believe we should stick with these Blizzard Bags for future snow days; just make sure the students and teachers all completely understand the purpose. Jordan Doepker, 12

I thought the Blizzard Bags were a better choice than the alternative of adding three days to the end of the year. Some teachers just checked for completion, while others checked for correctness. I think this was unfair because I knew people who had all their teachers just checking for completion while I had to get all of the answers right. It took me a lot longer to do some of the assignments, and it took longer than the three days in class would have taken. Also, a lot of

the assignments were not beneficial. They were OGT reviews. I will not need to take the OGT again. I learned nothing from Blizzard Bags. Over all, I thought they were a good idea, but they were not enforced very well. Katie Turocy, 10 I think Blizzard Bags are a good idea, but teachers went overboard. Some teachers gave three different, one hour Blizzard Bag assignments, when we only do 20 minutes of work in their class on a normal day. Other teachers graded them for correctness, when on any other day of school, they would not even look to see if it was done. So overall, I was happy we get out three days early, but I wish the teachers made the work more realistic. Nick Hassinger, 10 The Blizzard Bags that we had to do were absolutely ridiculous! Should we have been punished for the inclement weather? The amount of work was so much more than what we usually do at school in a day. Also, we had to do them over Spring Break when we are supposed to be resting and taking a break. Haylee Kupiec, 10

Editorial Policy The Bruin is a monthly publication produced by the Newspaper II and Newspaper III students at Wadsworth High School. The Newspaper I class produces the April May issue. The staff will do its best to inform the student body and the community of intra-school, community or national events that affect the student body. This paper provides on-the-job training for the staff members. All decisions are made by the staff members with the advice and suggestions of the adviser. The school administration works closely with the staff to ensure accuracy. We, as the students of journalism, hold the same rights and the same responsibilities as professional journalists as we strive for professional standards. These rights include the right to print any material that is not libelous, obscene or excessively disruptive to the school process. The Bruin will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, color, creed or sex. The staff members accept full responsibility for everything appearing in this publication. The staff strongly encourages students to express their opinions through the letters to the editor column, which is printed every month. The staff also encourages the members of the community to express their opinion as well. Space permitting, all letters will be printed. Because the staff accepts the responsibility for the contents of the paper, we must reserve the right to edit or omit any portion of any letter. All letters must be signed, but the name will be withheld upon request.

N ews A word from our

principal

Students, the end of the school year is finally here. It has been a fantastic year, and I want to thank all of you for making my first year as principal a great one. We have had Academic, Fine Arts and Athletic success. It has been amazing to watch all of you mature. Each year brings wonderful moments of excellence from our student body. Keep up the good work. I want to take this time to thank our wonderful staff for an outstanding year. The new evaluation system certainly was taxing on us all, but as we said, it was our time to shine, and you certainly did this year. Students, you are fortunate to have a passionate group of teachers that motivate, inspire and care for you. Not an easy task as you know, but they do an excellent job. Special thanks and congratulations to Mr. Shepherd who will be retiring this year after 35 years of teaching. We hope that you have a great retirement. We also say goodbye to counselors Mr. Molina and Mrs. Ake who will be moving on next year. Both of you care so much about the students and help them in any way possible. You will all be missed. I would also like to give special mention to Mr. Wright, Mr. Tudor and Mr. Musgrave. I have appreciated all of the work each of you have done to make WHS a great place to be for our students and staff. You three have treated ALL students and staff very well. Students, I have said it multiple times, and I will say it again. We have the greatest high school in the state of Ohio. Have a great summer and see you in August. GO GRIZZLIES! P.S. – Only 81 more days until school starts back in Fall! Mr. Steve Moore

The Bruin

April/May 2014

P i s t o r i o u s t r i a l s t i r s c o nt r o v e r s y By Elizabeth Heckler

Oscar Pistorious stirred up a lot of controversy during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Now the double-amputee runner is stirring up more controversy, this time in the South African justice system. The Olympic athlete is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day 2013. Pistorious claims that he awoke during the night of the murder and heard noises coming from the toilet stall in his apartment, and then proceeded to shoot through the door of the stall. He defends his actions by saying that he thought an intruder was in his apartment, and he feared for his and Steenkamp’s safety because he did not have on his prosthetic legs. Prosecutors in the case say that Pistorious and Steenkamp had argued earlier in the evening, and Steenkamp had hidden in the toilet stall of the apartment.

They say Pistorious then put on his prosthetics, walked to the bathroom door, and purposely killed his girlfriend. Pistorious’ arrest, and the accusations directed at him, have shocked fans of the athlete all over the world. In his home country of South Africa, Pistorious holds a celebrity status equivalent with some of America’s top NFL players. Many of his fans have been fiercely defensive of the runner. The world-famous sprinter has displayed dramatic responses to the grisly evidence presented during the trial. A South African journalist has even accused Pistorious of taking acting lessons before the trial, but this has been fiercely denied by a spokeswoman of the defendant. Crossexaminations were concluded on April 15. The court was in recess until May 5, then returned to order.

Photos Courtesy of MCT CAMPUS

Left: Pistorious and others wait during a recess of the trial. Right: Pistorious reacts with tears to the description of Steenkamp’s wounds and her death. One South African journalist has accused the athlete of taking acting lessons before the trial.

Photo Courtesy of MCT CAMPUS

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorious is on trial for the alleged murder of Reeva Steenkamp. The court was in recess until May 5.

LOCAL Severe weather hits Medina region

An assault of recent thunderstorms have hit Medina county and surrounding areas, resulting in flooding, heavy rain and tornado warnings. Meteorologist Dick Goddard was rescued after floodwaters swamped his car.

Drug testing initiated at 3 local high schools

Wadsworth Chamber of Commerce Rosie Awards

Doug Beeman won Business Manager of the Year Award and Roger Havens was given the Key to the City by Mayor Laubaugh.

GRIZZLY GRANDEUR PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS

Random drug testing of students is being initiated at Gilmour Academy, St. Edward, and St. Ignatius next year. WHS’s first annual talent show took place on April 17. It was Five STAFF MEMBERS RETIRING a night of excellent singing, Cheryl Bareiter, Marcia Barnes, LuAnn Gresh, Margaret dancing, and comedy. McCans, Ramizi Shepherd will all be retiring from WCS at the end of the 2014 school year.

WORLD

Migrant boats sink off greek coast

Two boats filled with immigrants trying to illegally enter Greece sunk in the eastern Aegean Sea. At least 2 people drowned while 30 are still missing.

Violence escalates in the Ukraine

Pro-Russian demonstrators and Ukrainian loyalists fought in the streets of Odessa. 31 people were killed when a building was set on fire. In addition, 12 others were killed and 123 more were wounded.

Photo Courtesy of MRS. KATSAROS

National

American man wins Boston marathon

Meb Keflezighi won the Boston Marathon on April 21 with a time of 2:08:37, making him the first American man to win the race since Greg Meyer’s victory in 1983.

DONALD STERLING BANNED FROM NBA

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned for life from the NBA after he made various racist comments. He is also being fined $2.5 million and could be forced to sell the team.

Community launches new anti-texting campaign BY HAYLEE KUPIEC

In 2012, over 3,000 people were killed and 421,000 injured due to distracted driving. In order to combat this, the Wadsworth community started a five-day program, running from April 10 to April 14, that was part of the nationwide campaign U-Drive, U-Text, U-Pay. It was targeted towards getting teens to realize the serious consequences of texting and driving. Ohio’s law against texting while driving became effective on August 31, 2012. This campaign was geared towards letting people know about the enforcement of the anti-

texting law in Ohio by means of advertising and media. “I think texting and driving is a major problem, not only for teens but for everyone,” said Officer Innocenti. When asked about the expected success of this project, officials site the success of both the “Click it or Ticket” and the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns. The new texting campaign followed the same format as the previous projects. It combined the enforcement of tough laws and advertisements in order to stop people’s risky behaviors. “I have never done that. I would never because I know

PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

Advertisements like this one have been used to inform people about the campaign.

how dangerous it is, and I do not think my life is worth a stupid text,” said Sarah Richmond, 10, when asked about her views on texting and driving. Most people know that texting while driving can have serious consequences, including death, but a majority of young people do not know the specifics. A first offense for a driver under the age of 18 could result in a $150 fine as well as a 60 day driver’s license suspension. A second

violation could result in a $300 fine as well as a one year suspension. For anyone above the age of 18, the violation is a minor misdemeanor and results in a fine. This campaign is working towards stopping this activity completely or at least decreasing the amounts of offenses and tragedies dramatically. The Wadsworth community is hoping that this campaign increases the safety of people on and off the road.

April/May 2014

THE BRUIN

Patrons 2013-2014

Allen and Amy Mavity Allen and Corina Bingham Allison Parsons Andrea Schoolcraft Andrew Booth and Family Andy and Erin McPherson Anytime Fitness Babyak Family Baxley Family Blue Moon Construction Bob and Carol Simmons Boss Frostyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brad Musgrave Brian and Paula Sherril Bruce and Laurel Herron Chuck and Ronda Berger Dan and Rose Jaeger Dave and Chrissie Vidmar Dave and Heidi Schwarz Dave and Teri Sansonetti David and Toni Lack Debbie and Gary Lake Debra Miller Dick Long Dom Carretta Doug Beeman Doyle Financial Dr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Hill and Family Dr. and Mrs. Fortner Drew Knight Dwain Kibler Ernie and Ericha Joy Frank and Debbie Lingel Glen Rutherford Photography Hannan Laikos Hilliard Rospert Event Center Homestead Renovation LLC Howard Hanna Mortgage Howard Hanna Real Estate Jan Althaus Jane and Jim Douglas Jared Klein Jeff and Kathie Priest Jerry and Barb Newcomer Jessica Gibson

Jim and Ginny Morrison Richard and Evelyn Sickler Joe and Phyllis Berger Richard and Judy Cundiff Joe Leonard Ritzman Pharmacy Judy Lepley RK Beef Karla and Kevin Smith Rob and Amy Clark Kelli Coulombe Robert Bingham Ken and Ellen Tollett Roger Havens Ken and Gio Brandes Ron and Pam Hammel Ken and Mary Cornacchione Sandi and Bill Mueller Kenneth Richards Sandler Training Lanson Family Scott and Kelly Centea Lawerence and Nancy Jennings Scott and Loree Runkle Lee and Judy Weinerman Seibertkeck Insurance Leigh Ann Ruether Sra. Mateos Libby Egleston Sherri and Tim Rhodes Lindsay Gilbert Sonja Halstead Marilyn and Bob Runkle Stephanie Hrubik Mark and Cheryl Gilbert Steve and Sarah McIlvaine Mark and Debbie Thompson Sue Allison Mark and Jennifer Haas Teri Lee Mark and Megan Postak Teringo Family Marrin Family The Corpenings Melissa Eaton The Alishusky Family Micheal and Tiffany Leonard The Bowers Family Mike and Kara Green The Cundiff Family Mike and Lori Fick The Dennison Family Mike and Nana Callow The Fusco Family Mike and Stephanie Capron The Hassinger Family Mike Frank The LaMonica Family Mike Schmeltzer The Manley Family Mr. and Mrs. John Messina The Pace Family Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence The Recupero Family Kaufman and Family The Schoonover Family Mr. Steve Moore The Watts Family Mrs. North The Witschey Family Nancy and Dan Bender Tom and Lisa Oplinger Neil Spice Tom and Toni Knapp Pat and Dawn Landolph Tom and Maryan Postak Paul and Kay Gilbert Trish and Dave Swanson Pete and Cindy Laikos Wadsworth Pediatrics Phyllis Dempsey Wendie Montgmery Ramizi and Cathy Shepard Wonjo Family Rebecca Dills Wysocki Family Rench Family Zach Berger Rich and Cheri Long Zollinger Sand and Gravel

A DS

THE BRUIN

April/May 2014

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April/May 2014

O pinion 1

THE BRUIN

The main characters of the six most popular fan bases: the Hunger Games, Divergent, Percy Jackson, the Host, the Mortal Instruments, and Harry Potter.

We l c o m e

OPINION BY ALEXANDRA

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

Survey suggests that the Hunger Games is the most popular fandom, against the Mortal Instruments, Harry Potter, Divergent, Percy Jackson, and the Host.

A common example of an act of fangirling.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

So you are asking yourself, “what is a fangirl?” This is the golden opportunity to get everything you need to know on how to be a fangirl. There are obviously exceptions to fanboys, but fangirls tend to be more musing. Do you see someone wearing a Batman shirt, or hear someone telling their friend, Luke, that they are their father? This is a fanboy, my friend. However, a fangirl is an emotionally wrecked teenage girl who throws her desires into fictional books and people they will never meet. They are convinced they will get married to the character or create a “ship” for every female seen with a male. Common fanbases, as of now, are Divergent, The Mortal Instruments, The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, The Host, and Harry Potter. If you are a member of one of these fanbases, you are guilty of wanting to live a

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

‘fandom’

life similar to the one read in books, even if that means going into an arena with 23 other teenagers to fight to your death. You are a fangirl if you are guilty of waiting for your acceptance letter from Hogwarts on your eleventh birthday or even trying to see what faction you would best fit into. I mean, who would not want to be Dauntless? “I cannot even,” Bri Humes, grade 9, tells us about being a fangirl. What if you are not a fangirl? What do you do to become one? The answer is simple: say goodbye to your social life and throw your focus into things that will literally never happen in your life. Say you want to be a literate fangirl. Where are you supposed to begin? Think of a book that might spark your interest, then think of the characters as your best friends. If you want to be a fangirl, then you have nothing better to do with your life than making picture edits of your favorite quotes and giving a play-by-play on what is happening in the book through Twitter. Movies are way better than books, right? If that is you, then you have entered a world of cinematic obsession and fantasy. It is likely that you have posters of your favorite movies on the

walls of your room. You may even take stills from these flicks to recreate a favorite scene to post on your Instagram account. I will be honest; I am following about fifteen Divergent accounts and maybe eleven Hunger Games accounts. What is even more embarrassing is that I have an account for my own book! You have caught me red-handed. I am, indeed, a fangirl. The chances of you catching me hiding in a corner with my Nook are very high. The chances of you getting injured because you have touched my Nook are also high. If I could give you a logical answer for this choice of lifestyle, I swear I would tell you. In my opinion and from my own personal experience, I, and many others, have fallen in love with these fandoms because it gives us a break from reality. Reading about a life that is more complicated than your own can be comforting, in a way. I mean, I do not know about you, but Percy Jackson and I are best friends. If he is hurting, I am hurting, and that distracts me from everything else. Fandoms are like families. They may be wild, but they would be nowhere without each other.

Dress code eliminates individuality OPINION BY ALEY

In an education system where conformity is key, what draws the line between acceptable clothing and provocative attire? To what lengths should the dress code stretch before it does not make sense? According to opinions gathered on GreatSchools.org, dress code policies and school uniforms can encourage discipline, diminish social barriers and increase a student’s sense of belonging. Another reason behind having a dress code is that violations, mostly by women, will distract students and staff. As a woman, and being capable of reasoning and thought, I believe that this is socially and morally lopsided. “Everything falls on the girls as far as restrictions go, and boys are being taught less and less often to respect girls,” said Mrs. Mathews, “the dress code is necessary but not fair on females.” Perhaps our education system should be teaching boys that it is not okay to objectify women instead of teaching young girls that it is not okay to love their

bodies and express themselves. “As I have stressed countless times, standards do not define us. Unnecessary restrictions within dress codes are blatant examples of how society forces young women to limit self expression in order to avoid being objectified. In no way is that acceptable,” said Savannah Brown, 12. Dress codes are not evil, but some policies just sound ridiculous. How do personal decisions become “destructive and disruptive in appearance and detrimental to the operation of the school,” as quoted in the student handbook? Students should be focused on learning, not their clothing. The emphasis on such insignificant things aside from education is the real issue. Not every dress code policy is unreasonable, though, as some may argue. Yes, it is probably wrong to wear a bikini to first period, because it would be very distracting. Yes, some apparel could offend certain groups. Yes, there is a need for modesty and self-respect in a public institution. All of these are valid reasons behind what should be an institution used to make public schools more efficient. Sadly, it has been extorted into something entirely different: a means of asserting control over students. Aside from the right of expression, dress code poses other

problems in our education system. Families struggling economically might not have the resources to restock their child’s wardrobe with hole-less jeans and wider tank tops. Also, teachers violating dress code could be fired based on the formality of their attire rather than their ability to successfully prepare students for life. It seems as if many public school systems have failed to correctly determine what is actually distracting and what is being enforced for the sake of maintaining order and equality. Instead of suppressing students, schools should promote the development of individuality to better prepare them for life after school. Instead of being taught to act like another lifeless, memorizing drone, we should be encouraged to express ourselves. When asked about the restriction of a student’s right to express political, religious, and social views, Mr. Moore explained that politics and religion have no place in a high school. “Our job is to educate students on politics, not pick a side… We must uphold the separation of church and state as well.” He also explained that where some students may argue that they are expressing themselves, these forms of expression could offend other students and therefore are not welcome at WHS.

PHOTO BY ALEY LIND

From left to right: common examples of how students have learned to bend the dress code through athletic shorts and yoga pants.

PHOTO BY ALEY LIND

Extreme examples of dress code violators: shirtlessness, saggy pants, tank tops, and distractingly short shorts (which are uncommon among boys).

O PINION 2

April/May 2014

THE BRUIN

Summer reigns high in list of worsts OPINION BY CHARLOTTE

Summer can be the best of times, but it can also be the worst of times. Sure, there are a few good summer days here and there, but mostly the days are filled with pain and suffering. The bad days far outweigh the good days in the summer. First of all, there is the heat. Summer temperatures can reach highs of 90 to 100 degrees. Who wants to be outside in that kind of weather? These temperatures also make it possible to cause heatstroke, which can be fatal. Staying outside in this kind of heat for extended periods of time furthers your risk of getting this fatal illness. On average, 675 people die from heatstroke every year. The only way to avoid this potentially life threatening illness is to stay inside, away from the sun. Next is the bugs. It does not matter how much bug spray you put on, you are still going to get bitten and be uncomfortable and itchy until your bug bite goes away.

On top of bug bites is poison ivy. You cannot walk through your yard without contracting this annoying rash. There is nothing worse than having to lay awake for hours at night while scratching your bug bites and poison ivy rash. The next thing I hate about summer is the lightning bugs. Lightning bugs are constantly acting like they are better than everything else. I am sure that I am not the only one who can never catch a lightning bug. It is annoying, obnoxious and makes me hate summer a little more every time a lightning bug evades my attempt to catch it. Next is sand. The word alone aggravates me. I go to the beach in anticipation of a fun day and then end up with sand in places I did not know existed. It gets between your sheets, and it is constantly scratching you. The worst part is that you cannot escape it. Even if you do not go to the beach, sand inevitably ends up in your clothes, hair and bed. Another terrible part of summer is having to retire all your socks. There is nothing fun about having to tell your socks that you will not be wearing them for another four months. It is depressing to know that you will be neglecting your socks for a

long time. Then there is also the pressure to always have a picnic. I hate picnics. Who wants to sit on the hard ground eating food that could easily be eaten inside an air conditioned house while ants crawl all over you? Another terrible part of summer is having to work when everyone else is having fun. There is nothing worse than being stuck inside while all of your friends are having fun outside. Sure, you are making money, but at the same time, you would rather be outside in the warm weather with your friends. Another cause of distress during the summer months is sunburn. This painful inflammation of the skin is caused by overexposure to the sun. It hurts a lot, and no matter how much Aloe Vera gel you apply, it still hurts. Last of all, summer can get boring. There is only so much that you can do during the summer months. After about a month, you have run out of things to do! Then what do you do? You do nothing because that is all that is left to do. Summer can be fun, it really can, but the majority of the time, it is not. There are only a few fun things that you can do. Summer really is the worst.

Speak up: What is the worst part of summer?

“When it ends.” -Colin, 11

“Summer reading.” -Nick, 11

“Thinking about coming back to school.” -Morgan 9

“The last Sunday when you know you have to wake up early the next day.” -Danny, 10

“Not being on a timed schedule.” Brittany, 12

“Spending more time with my family.” Erin, 12

Sensational summer dominates as best season

OPINION BY MADISON

Who does not love summer? It is the best time of the year! You get a break from school, the weather is warm, you might even go on vacation; the best part is you have nothing to do but relax. This past winter seemed like it dragged on forever. It was constantly cold, and I think everyone quickly got tired of it. We are all ready for the sun to come out, along with some heat. Most of us are really dreading school now because it seems like we have been here forever. We all love a break from school and most people are in need of one at this time of the school year. To know that summer is right around the corner is definitely a relief for most of us! We are all ready to enjoy a few months off to not worry about homework, tests, projects and the worst of all, waking up before noon. Summer is also the time where families, most likely, decide to go on a vacation. Vacations are fun, no matter where you go! A lot of families decide to go to the beaches in North or South Carolina even Florida. While at the beach, you get to enjoy the hot sun, lay in the sand and

swim in the ocean. Maybe you will find your true love while at the beach just like in the movies! Going on vacation is extremely relaxing because you are able to get away. Who does not love a break from Ohio? Especially with this weather we have had. Getting away from Ohio for a little bit can be exactly what everyone needs to recover from the long winter we have had. Another great thing about summer is that you do not have to be asleep or in bed by a certain time. You can stay

up for however long you want, and then sleep in, which is an amazing thing. You can stay out with friends or just hang around a bonfire all night. Summer is definitely the best time of the year. It is a time where you have nothing to do but relax and enjoy the time you have off. You get a break from school, and you get to spend some time with family or friends, and maybe even go on vacation. During summer you have nothing to worry about. Life is always better in the heat.

Speak up: What is the best part of summer?

“Running 400’s for cross country with Charlotte Boland.” -Kassidy, 11

“Waking up and watching Good Luck Charlie on Netflix with Connor Polk.” -Dayna, 11

“Sitting on the beach with some watermelon and KoolAid getting my tan on.” -Stellan, 10

“Not football two-a-days.” - Bennett , 11

THE BRUIN

April/May 2014

Fine Arts Assembly brings color to the audience BY MAGGIE PRESSON

The Fine Arts Assembly has always been a tradition at Wadsworth High School. The students are able to show their talent and charismatic imagination. This year’s assembly astounded many. Mrs. Mathews, coordinator of the show, had Dan Brazier, 12, and Dimitri Georgiadis, 12, host this assembly. The jazz band relaxed the crowd, starting it off by playing one of their favorites where Gabe Reed, 12, intrigued us all with his solo on the saxophone. After, Elite choir showed off their talent by singing “Demons” by Imagine Dragons. The first award was presented by Jim Griffin of the Harvard Club of Northeast Ohio. It is called the Harvard Prize Book Award and went to Zach Vuilleman, 11. Next, the Outstanding Vocal Music Award was given to Becca Habig, 12. Then the languages with the overall World Language Award given to Christopher Benson, 12, Latin Outstanding Student to Sarah Berger, 12, and the Outstanding Spanish Student to Kali Deem, 12. The Ohio Foreign Language Association for Latin, French and Spanish was awarded to Caleb Book, 12, Matt Babyak, 12, Allison Adams, 12, Cara Powell, 12, Michael

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

Dimitri, 12, performing his humorous speech for the students.

Sboray, 12, Jordan Doepker, 12, Anna Phillips, 12, and Brianna Clendaniel, 12. Speech and Debate never disappoints the audience. Dimitri Georgiadis performed his “Jedi” humorous speech for everyone. The students were filled with laughter from Georgiadis’ state winning performance. The Outstanding Speech and Debate Award was given after to Matthew Depero, 12. The spring musical cast performed “The Sound of Music” sung by Becca Habig, 12, “16 Going on 17” by Gabe Reed 12, and Cara Powell, 12, and “Do Re Mi” by the entire cast. The Outstanding Drama Student was then awarded to Gabe Reed, 12.

Every year, the assembly shows off our artists and their work here at WHS. Olivia Pickard, 11, announced each person’s name on a slide show, explained how they made their work and their plans for after high school. Some of these pieces were by Erin Hardgrove, Brittany Brewer, Natalee Jeisinski, Alice Ho, Beau Garner, Theo Bach, Anna Booth, Molly Lamb, Matt Slanta, Bailey Conard, Emily Buckingham and Caleb Erbland. The Outstanding Art Student of the Year was awarded to Brittany Brewer. Bruin recognized and gave out awards for their outstanding staff this year. These were announced by Editor-In-Chief Carly Cundiff, 12, and assistant editor Ryan

Landolph, 12. The Outstanding Bruin Award was presented to Carly Cundiff and next year’s Bruin staff Editor-In-Chief was given to Mason Egleston, 11. At the OSMA state competition, Wadsworth came in 2nd place overall with eleven awards won. Show choir came out and sang “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille. The jazz band played their last song called “Hanging with My Peeps” where Sean Adams, 11, had a solo on his saxophone. After this, the Outstanding Music Student of the Year was given to Meredith Paparone, 12. Last but certainly not least was

F eatures

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

Slide show of the students and their artwork.

the Teacher of the Year Award. This award is given at Wadsworth High School to a teacher who really works hard every day and cares for the students. This year it was given to Mrs. Farr who is also a coach at the school. The students worked hard to achieve these awards.

Gabe, 12, and Cara, 12, performing “16 Going on 17.”

PHOTO BY Jessica Doherty

FINE ARTS ASSEMBLY

PHOTO BY Jessica Doherty

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

The WHS band director Steve Hadgis leads the jazz band as they perform in front of the school for the Fine Arts Assembly.

The WHS show choir sings and dances in front of the school for the Fine Arts Assembly.

PHOTO BY JESSICA DOHERTY

Mason, 11, accepting his OSMA award and next year’s Editor-In-Chief position for The Bruin from Ryan, 12.

Barbecuing Hamlet lights up stage BY ANNIE GODIN

Once again, Wadsworth High School has wowed their audience with another outstanding show. People poured into the Performing Arts Center on May 1-3, 2014, to see Barbecuing Hamlet. This famous comedy takes a spin on William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. Set in the present at The Peaceful Glen Memorial Players Theater, Margo Daley, the director played by Mina Hoffman, is faced with directing the classic Hamlet. Turning it into a melodrama, Daley uses quick humor and eccentric characters to portray the five-act tragedy. This exciting comedy is perfect for a family night out and a great way to support our drama club at Wadsworth High School.

Attendees will be sure to get a few laughs in and enjoy some quality time at the theater. Not only is Daley from New York and thrown into Texas to direct this play, she deals with a few characters that make things a little chaotic in a humorous way. It was clear to see that the cast was extremely dedicated and passionate during this performance. Starring Mike Kurnot as Sarge Abbot, Hannah Romich as Hope Halliday, Collin Klonk as Duncan O’Tollealways, Evan Goebel as Hal Webster, Ali Ervin as Tamara Logan, Bri WitherSword as Mary Beth Lumpkin, Rachael Herman as Theodora Van Horn, Ben Swanson as Lamar Bentorres, Emily Brazier as Zoey Marcus, Haley Alishusky as Opal

Bell, Sean Adams as Budgie Suratt and Elishua Jansen as Harlen Dortmunger, a diversity of emotion and feeling are added to the stage with their vibrant roles. The drama was entertaining to watch and the cast had a good time performing it for the audience. “Being in a show like this was a really fun experience for me and everyone else. Rehearsing with the cast everyday for these past months have brought us all really close, and I can’t wait for next years show!” Alli Ervin, 9. Not only did the cast do a great job portraying Hamlet, but the crew was right on time with sound and lighting. Overall, the performance of Barbecuing Hamlet was top notch and not a show anyone would want to miss.

PHOTO BY ANNIE GODIN

Cast of Barbecuing Hamlet posing for a picture

E ntertainment THE BRUIN Famous locals leave lasting legacy

Most

a n t i c i pat e d

movies of summer

BY NOAH MURPHY AND CHASE PEGRIM

The city of Wadsworth is such a quaint little town that nobody expects much to come out of it. In reality, several famous locals have come to make an impact on the world. Drew Pearson- Pearson was born and raised in Wadsworth, but he moved to college in Phoenix, Arizona, where he graduated from the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in 2006. He immediately aspired to pursue a career in music. He is now a songwriter and producer. Some of his top achievements are writing songs for the Zac Brown Band, Phillip Phillips, Cody Simpson and Switchfoot. He has also produced music for Jesse McCartney, One Republic, and even Katy Perry. Pearson’s most notable achievement is most likely getting nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for his work with the Zac Brown Band. Andy Sonnanstine- A man many consider to be the greatest athlete to ever pass through Wadsworth High School, Andy Sonnanstine is currently a free agent relief pitcher in the MLB. After graduating from Kent State, Sonnanstine played for the Tampa Bay Rays until 2011 when he

April/May 2014

2014

22 Jump Street

Photo courtesy of MCT campus

Drew Pearson (far right), a Wadsworth High School graduate, writer of the hit song “Home” by Phillip Phillips, received a Grammy nomination in 2011.

Dawn of the Planet of Apes

The Fault In Our Stars Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

Michael Foreman is a Wadsworth native who has completed multiple space walks for NASA.

signed a one year deal with the Chicago Cubs. He then entered free agency. He was a member of the 2008 World Series runnerup team during his tenure with the Rays. Michael Foreman- The only person from Wadsworth to ever enter space, Michael Foreman is currently working as an astronaut for NASA. Foreman has quite a career as an astronaut, having accumulated 26 days, 13 hours, and 27 minutes of

total time in space. He has been a part of two missions to the International Space Station delivering modules and spare components while flying in the space shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour. While at the ISS, Foreman completed three space walks for a total of 19 hours. Foreman also has a notable military history as a naval aviator completing over 5,000 hours of flight time in 50 different types of air crafts.

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Photos by MCT Campus

What are you looking forward to doing the most in the summer?

“Senior year because when it is over, high school is too!” Maddie, 11

“Going to my cousin’s lake house in New Hampshire.” Sarah, 9

“Making money and playing football!” Chris, 11

out on a boring summer day. 4. Hocking Hills State Park and camping area Hocking Hills State Park is the perfect place to go outside and enjoy the long, awaited summer weather. The rolling hills, rivers, high cliffs and waterfalls make it feel as if one has left Ohio and has taken a trip to the Smokey Mountains. Another positive is the fact that aside from gas and food expenses, Hocking Hills is essentially free. Hocking Hills is a mustsee location for campers and nature-lovers.

3. Put-in Bay/South Bass Island Called the “crown jewel” of Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay is the perfect place to go to get away from the fuss of suburban northeast Ohio life. There are infinite things to do on the island: rent jet skis, go fishing, water ski, or shop around the town. Any beach lovers that cannot afford to go all the way to the ocean this year will be delighted by the calm beaches and warm waters of the lake. This island get-away is just a ferry ride away from Port Clinton.

“Swagging to the max.” Kyle, 10

All Photos by chase pegrim

“Country Fest and California!” Katelyn, 11

Top 5 attractions in Ohio for summer BY CHASE PEGRIM AND NOAH MURPHY

After a long winter, it seems as if there is nothing to do in Ohio. Here are some of the top attractions in the state to visit if you are looking to spice up your summer. 5. Dayton Aviation Center The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park is an interesting place to go to learn about Ohio’s proud history in aviation. It was built in honor of the Wright brothers. All of Dayton is filled with activities, such as the Wright Brothers’ Memorial, to check

2. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Perfect for rockers, nostalgic grandparents and any type of music lover to enjoy the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, appropriately placed in the rock capital of the world, Cleveland. Situated right on Lake Erie, the Rock Hall lies just to the right of Cleveland Browns Stadium in downtown Cleveland. Though it can be expensive, the Rock Hall is the perfect place to enjoy the history of music and spend a fun day with family and friends.

1. Cedar Point Amusement Park Finally, at number one, Cedar Point sits at the top of all of Ohio’s attractions. Self dubbed “America’s Rockin’ Roller Coast,” Cedar Point is sure to please anyone. Tied for the second most roller coasters in one park, Cedar Point holds 16 roller coasters, including the worldfamous Top Thrill Dragster, which can reach speeds of over 220 miles per hour, dwarfing all other roller coasters in the park. Cedar Point is truly the king of Ohio’s summer attractions.

Picture Page

THE BRUIN

April/May 2014

April/May Recap B.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MRS. CSAKY

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN STULL

Junior Banquet

Fine Arts Assembly

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA DOHERTY

Spring Sports

Youth in Government Day

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRI LEATHERMAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA DOHERTY

PHOTO COURTESY OF HALEY SMITH

PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGAN GILBERT

PHOTO COURTESY OF RILEY YOST

PHOTO BY LIV FORTNER

L.L.

PHOTO COURTESY OF D.J. JOHNSON

PHOTO BY BROOKE LEONARD

School Improvements

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA DOHERTY

PHOTO BY ALEX LENC

PHOTO BY LIV FORTNER

PHOTO BY ALEX LENC

A- Kyrsten, Abby, Sean, Spencer, James and Nick stop for a picture while tearing it up on the dance floor. B- The Junior Class poses for a picture while dancing the night away at the Tangier in Akron. C- Jim, Mike, Rory, Jake, Josh, Austin l, Brady, Andrew, Alex and Jake show off their wacky outfits before heading to the dance. D- The Show Choir performs one of their songs from their spring concert. E- The Drama Club performs their stunning “Sound of Music” piece. F- Dimitri, 12, is seen doing his State winning comedy skit for the Fine Arts Assembly. G- The Jazz band performs one of their pieces for the school. H- The boys baseball team celebrates winning their Suburban League Title at the home plate. I- Grace, 10, winds up to throw a pitch during a softball game. J- The Wadsworth Lacrosse team lines up before an intense match with Canfield. K- The boys tennis team takes a quick picture after a match, sporting their newly won medals.

PHOTO BY CAMERON MENDEL

L- Theo 12, and Spencer, 9, compete in a track event against the Revere Minutemen. M- Alec, Maria and Cassidy, 12, STOP to take a picture during Youth in Government Day. N- The Youth in Government Day attendees pose in front of Ohio’s flag for a group picture. O- Brandon, 12, reads over some papers while waiting for the speakers to begin. P- A new Wadsworth “W” that has been placed in the cafeteria can be seen by students in study hall and lunch. Q- The “Grizzly Country” sign is a great addition to our school that can be seen by students and visitors that are entering for events in the main gym, PAC or cafeteria. R- New stickers installed under the senior commons windows can be seen by people in the cafeteria.

PAGE BY ALEX LENC & CAMERON MENDEL

Picture Page

THE BRUIN

PHOTO COURTESY OF MADDIE PACE

Maddie, 10, and Maria , 12, sport their matching dresses on a summer day at the carnival.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENNA MURPHY

Freshmen McKenna, Brenna and Erin spend a summer day at basketball camp.

S U M M E R

April/May 2014

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACH LOOSER

Brothers Ryan, 12, and Zach 10, both enjoy a popsicle to cool down on a warm day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH ROE

Young Sarah, 9, and Cora, 9, show off their tubing skills while out boating.

THROWBACKS RTESY

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MADDIE GILGER

Maddie 12, enjoys a great day at the zoo during her childhood summer.

Sisters Er PH sun wit in, 10, and Reg OTO COURTESY O h their F an, 12, cat. spend th ERIN KILBRIDE e day in the

PHOTO COURTESY OF HALEY WITSCHEY

Haley, 10, plays around in the sand while at the beach.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAILE PAPPAS

Juniors Aubrey, Annie, Kaile, and Elizabeth pose for a picture after a swim on a hot summer day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNA JOHNSON

Twins Jodi, 10, and Jenna, 10, take a drive together on a hot day in the summer.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA THOMPSON

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLY PAUMIER

Hannah and Olivia, 9, take a road trip to Myrtle Beach with their friend Carly, 10.

PAGE BY SYDNEY BOWERS & REGAN SZALAY

Coach Booth and seniors Cara, Olivia, Courtney, and Peyton, gather for a picture during the hot weather after winning the Gus Macker 3-on-3 tournament.

April/May 2014

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THE BRUIN

April/May 2014

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THE BRUIN

Burton, Farr to hang up spikes

PHOTO BY MALIA GUNSELMAN

John Burton receives the traditional Gatorade splash after his last home track meet. BY NOAH BAUGHMAN

Mr. John Burton and Mrs. Michelle Farr will bring their great coaching careers to an end for Wadsworth after this year. The two have been coaching both track and cross country for quite a while and decided this was

the year to wrap up their careers. For 20 years, Burton has been coaching the girls track and boys cross country teams to success. Along with coaching, Burton has taught Academic, Honors and AP Biology. Despite having a great amount on his agenda, Burton gave his full commitment to his teams and runners. This type of

dedication is one reason why the Lady Grizzly runners have been so successful over the years. Along with extreme dedication, Burton brings a coaching style that gets the job done. His style improves his runners and pushes them to do their best. “He is very straight forward. He will tell you what you are doing wrong and how to fix it,” stated Morgan Cook, 10. Mr. Burton’s career has led to many accomplishments including 16 Suburban League Titles, 23 athletes to earning a college scholarship and 46 individual state qualifiers with some qualifying in more than one event. Burton’s decision to step down from coaching at Wadsworth was driven by the idea of seeing his son run during his senior year. Next season, Burton wants to be coaching his son at Copley on an everyday basis. Although he is stepping down, Burton stated he is more than willing to return to the program after next season because of his love for coaching. “It has been an outstanding experience working with great people. I am blessed with the relationships I have formed over the years,” said Mr. Burton. As for Farr, she has been coaching for nine years, six of which being with the boys team.

Being a girls and boys coach, she has learned the different styles and types of athletes. For girls, she does not yell but has to do much more psychological coaching because of her girls’ mind set. For boys, Farr says she is always yelling and has to keep the boys on the destined track. When asked about a memory, Farr was set on one favorite, although she has made a ton. The 2010 state track meet was an awesome experience for her. Jake Hiltner was crowned state champion, the four-by-eight 100 relay team broke the state record and the four-by-four team took third. These break out, postseason achievements mark

the top of her accomplishments. Not only is Farr dominant on the track, she is spectacular in the classroom. Farr was named the 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year, an astounding achievement that very few staff members receive. Although it is a sad goodbye, Coach Burton and Coach Farr have brought success and great leadership to these teams and our students. They have made many great memories for Wadsworth and will be greatly missed. They not only made great athletes, but great people. “I am going to miss watching the sport affect the lives of kids for the better. It changes people and I will miss it,” said Farr.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOIRA PRIEST

Coach Michelle Farr poses with the districts team before her last race of her current coaching career.

Croghan volleys two sports, one season BY JACK MERHAR

Many student athletes at Wadsworth play two sports, but at two different times during the year. Well, Cameron Croghan has proven that he can make playing two sports at the same time work. Croghan has been running since seventh grade and began his tennis career during his freshman year. When asked why he chose to play two sports this spring, he said, “I wanted to play tennis and help the track team.” Croghan also stated that he prefers tennis because it is “more fun and easier.” Most high school athletes dread the daily grind of having seven hours of school and then either a practice or game, but not Croghan. He said he finds it rather easy to manage sports and school because he knows he has a set schedule everyday. High school

sports, especially at Wadsworth, can be very intense. That is one reason why he chose to play two sports. He enjoys the thrill of competition and said that he gets the most enjoyment from “being a part of the sport and helping two teams at once”. Croghan, like most high school athletes during their respective seasons, has no free time. “I do not mind having no free time. I love competing and playing the sports I love.” He also has

some big shoes to fill because his father, Mark Croghan, was a three-time Olympian and four-time USA Outdoor champion. Croghan says he aspires to be like his dad, and may end up running in college if he can get his times faster. Croghan was also named Medina Gazette player of the week for tennis, which was a huge honor for him. Cameron Croghan symbolizes a true grizzly, a person with heart and courage.

Phone: 330-322-8112 E-mail: beccagramuglia@gmail.com Site: vintagegreenphotography.com

By: Becca Gramuglia

• Seniors • Couples • Trash the Dress • Families • Maternity

PHOTO BY JACK MERHAR

Cameron practices his serve before the Senior Night tennis match against the Wooster Generals. Shortly after, he practiced for his upcoming track meet.

Baseball

Softball

Boys/Girls Track

Boys Tennis

The boys are nearing the conclusion of the season with a 19-1 record. With a 4-0 victory over Highland, the boys clinched the outright Suburban League title for the first time since 2004. They are currently on the path to meet Walsh Jesuit in the District semifinals.

Softball was off to a great start in the beginning of the season, but has struggled with some tough losses of late. As competition grew, the ladies dropped to 9-12 and 7-7 in the Suburban League. Although varsity has struggled, they are looking to make a strong comeback in the playoffs.

The boys and girls track teams season are in full swing. Coach Shrock and Coach Burton have been pushing their runners to the max. This should lead to a successful season for the Grizzlies.

The boys tennis team recently finished fourth in the Suburban League tournament, while first doubles Nathan Lockwood and Owen McDevitt placed third for the Grizzlies. Zach Porter has made it to the Medina Sectional quarterfinal and looks to continue his run with a victory.

S ports B riefs

Lacrosse The lacrosse team has had an improved season so far with a record of 6-9. Even with the losing record, the coaches and team know that the program has a bright future ahead of them. Many feel this is becoming a more popular sport to watch and play.

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April 2014

THE BRUIN

Manziel brings hype back to Cleveland BY DANIEL WEINERMAN

A feeling of relief coursed through the body of Johnny Manziel late Thursday night after he finally received the phone call that made him a Cleveland Brown. Sitting through 22 long picks could not have been very pleasing to Texas A&M, who probably expected a top ten pick, but once his name was called, it was show-time. It was an equally long night for the Browns organization. New GM Ray Farmer shocked fans by using the eighth pick to select a cornerback out of Oklahoma State named Justin Gilbert. Many fans feel that decision was ill-advised, especially since Farmer had a shot at the star receiver, Sammy Watkins, as the fourth pick. Farmer, instead, traded down to eight and watched the Bills take Watkins. Next, the state of Ohio watched to see whether their wonder boy would get drafted. After 14 more nerve-racking picks, Manziel fell through the fingers

of many teams that are enduring similar quarterback problems as Cleveland, including Dallas, who passed up on keeping the former Heisman winner inside state borders. Nevertheless, as things played out, Cleveland got Manziel. Within a matter of 12 hours of the pick, 2,000 season tickets were sold and his jersey became the number one selling jersey among rookies.

Since May 8, many things have happened. For instance, Browns all-star receiver, Josh Gordon, was handed a one year suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy. This news makes Browns fans cringe because Watkins would be a very valuable pick now. Only time will tell if Johnny Football will be the star fans expect, or another infamous Cleveland Browns’ draft failure.

Daniel’s Top 5 vs. Actual Top 5 1. JADEVEON CLOWNEY

1. JADEVEON CLOWNEY

2. JOHNNY MANZIEL

2. GREG ROBINSON

3. SAMMY WATKINS

3. BLAKE BORTLES

4. HA HA CLINTON-DIX

4. SAMMY WATKINS

5. MIKE EVANS

5. KHALIL MACK

PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

Johnny Manziel, the Browns’ new knight in shining armor, celebrates. Manziel will battle Brian Hoyer for the starting quarterback position.

Competition heats up to conquer 2014 World Cup title BY ZACH LOOSER

This summer the top soccer players in the world will compete for their respective countries in 17 major cities in Brazil. The prize is the biggest soccer accomplishment in the world, the World Cup title. The tournament is set up in an eight team pool bracket. The two winners will face off in the quarter-final. The winner of the quarter-final will move on to semifinals and, eventually, to the World Cup Final. In Group G is the U.S., Ghana, Germany and Portugal. Kicking off for the group is Portugal and Germany at 1 P.M. on June 16. The United States will face off against Ghana to decide who will be playing in the quarter-final for the Group G. The best players in the world compete in this tournament. The top teams of the World Cup this year are Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Uruguay, Spain, Italy, France, The Netherlands and England. These teams are

predicted to make it the furthest in the tournament. Groups B, D and G have the most competition in this year’s World Cup. Group B, featuring Spain and The Netherlands, makes the young Dutch team worried about the Spanish veterans. These two teams competed in the championship final of the last World Cup in 2010. Uruguay, England and Italy are all huge rivals in Group D. This bracket is heated with competition. Three major countries look to move on to the semifinals. The most popular prediction for the teams facing off in the final are Brazil and Argentina. Many experts believe that Argentina is a fast and a well coached team. They have what it takes to make it far, but many feel Brazil, with the advantage of playing on their own soil, will have the drive to win the World Cup title. They have not won since 2002, and have the stamina to prove themselves to their fans and country.

World Cup Groups Group B

Group A

Group C

Brazil Croatia Mexico Cameroon

Spain Netherlands Chile Australia

Columbia Greece Cote D’ivoire Japan

Group D

Group E

Group F

Uruguay Costa Rica England Italy

Switzerland Ecuador France Honduras

Group G

Argentina Bosnia Iran Nigeria

Group H

Germany Portugal Ghana USA

Belgium Algeria Russia Korea Republic PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

Will you watch the World Cup?

PHOTO BY ZACH LOOSER

“Yes, I am looking forward to watching it with my soccer team this summer.” -Bri, 9

PHOTO BY DANIEL WEINERMAN

PHOTO BY ZACH LOOSER

“No, I will not be watching the World Cup because I think soccer is boring.” -Mason, 10

“Yes, I am super excited for the World Cup and I cannot wait for the U.S. to come through.” -Joy, 11

PHOTO BY ZACH LOOSER

“Yes, I want to see Brazil win it. It has been 12 years since we won the World Cup.” -Arthur, 12

April/May 2014

THE BRUIN

C ommunity 1

Trendy Th re a d s m a k e s g r e a t a d d i tion to community

BY ELIZABETH HECKLER

This October will mark Trendy Threads's ten year anniversary. However, many residents of Wadsworth are still unaware that this store even exists. They are missing out on an opportunity to buy fashionable, quality clothes for cheap prices. I sat down with Trendy Threads owner, Katrina Sisouphanh, at the store, located at 173 North Lyman Street, to talk about the history of the store and learn more about it. One thing I was curious about was what made Sisouphanh want to open her business. "My mom and her sister had one in Wooster, and they were there for about fifteen years," she said. "So I worked there with them while my children were growing up." After her mom and aunt retired, Sisouphanh decided to open her own store in Wadsworth. She saw how much fun her family had running their store, so she wanted to have one of her own. Trendy Threads is a consignment store, which is different from other used clothing stores like Marian's Closet or Goodwill. Instead of simply donating their clothes to the store, customers called "consigners" sell their pieces to the store for a portion of the profit. In general, a

consigner at Trendy Threads will get 40% of the profit on clothes they sell and 50% on formal things, such as prom dresses. In order to keep up with trends and make sure each piece is in good condition, Trendy Threads only accepts name-brand clothes that are less than two years old. Trendy Threads is set apart from other stores of its type by its selection of clothes. While many consignment stores cater only to juniors and women, Trendy Threads has clothes for the whole family. Also, because it only carries brand name clothing, Trendy Threads provides close, easy access to things that shoppers would normally have to go to the mall to buy. Members of the community do not have to drive as far to find specific items that they may be looking for to wear to a dance or wedding. I also asked Sisouphanh some questions about what life is like when you own a business. She says some of the biggest challenges she faces have to do with finances. Business is slower in the winter months, so she does not sell as many items. Sisouphanh still has to pay the bills for the building and pay the consigners. However, there are some great perks to owning a small business in Wadsworth, such as meeting new people and

Coach Liz loves water BY JAKE BRAUMBAUGH

Head Coach Liz Hastings, or as the swimmers know her, Coach Liz, has been a vital part of the swim team for two seasons now. Experience is the key to success, and Coach Hastings has had over 20 years as a head coach and an assistant coach. Her journey as a coach has extended all the way to Arizona, where she coached Brophy East Swim Team for a short six months where she worked with some of the best swimmers in the U.S. Coach Hastings also coached at Strongsville High School for nine years. While she was coaching at Strongsville, she also worked with the South West Aquatic Team or SWAT. After her career with Strongsville ended, she was able to concentrate more on SWAT’s success. She was able to grow the team substantially, from 11 members to 130. When her career with SWAT came to a close, she was looking for a new team to take on, and found a team she believed she could grow with. That team was the Copley Water Warriors. The team is home to mostly Copley students, but it also has Wadsworth swimmers. She has been coaching the Water Warriors for two years now. When asked why she chose to become the coach at Wadsworth, she replied, “Initially, a swimmer’s dad from the Water Warriors informed me of the opening and told me I should apply. I was not sure I wanted to get back into high school swimming, but I realized the

potential of growing a program simultaneously. It was never my plan to be a coach. It was just something I was good at, and it became a career.” Before her career started, Coach Hastings studied at Purdue University, majoring in Pre-vet as well as earning a teaching degree. Coach Hastings not only studied at Purdue, but was on the school’s rowing team for three years. As a kid, Coach Hastings swam on a club team all the way throughout the ages of eight to 18. Hastings’s accomplishments do not stop at growing a team’s number of participants. She says her biggest accomplishments include qualifying many swimmers to state, having the 7th best team in the state at one point, being awarded coach of the year for Northeast Ohio district and having so many swimmers keep in touch with her, which she says makes it more like a family and adds purpose to her job. With coaching so many years, coaches see things that make them cringe, laugh and cry. Coach Hastings recalled a time when a girl she was coaching split her heels open on the gutter while doing a flip turn. Hastings had to assist the girl out of the pool so she could seek medical attention. Coach Hastings experienced an injury herself and had to go through a hip surgery, which she recalled as the most terrifying moment of her life and coaching career. Coach Hastings is always on the move, but somehow manages to find time to better herself as a coach and as an athlete.

seeing all the unique things they bring in. “I have made a lot of good friends through this,” she said. What sort of things has Sisouphanh learned from owning Trendy Threads? “I have learned that it is a lot more work than I originally thought it would be. It is a lot of stress, yet it is a lot of fun,” she said, smiling. “I enjoy what I do. There are months where I do not make anything, but I still really like what I am doing.” The businesswoman also has some advice for young women who want to start their own small business: think it over and think about what a business is going to be like five years from now. Will it be able to bring in enough to keep it going? Of course, Sisouphanh wishes more people knew that Trendy Threads was an option for buying clothes. She would love to have more students come in to buy and sell formal clothes for dances, and she has even been thinking about offering student discounts. Sisouphanh has put a lot of hard work into operating Trendy Threads, and she is a great role model for young women who want to open their own businesses. I would highly encourage everyone to check out the stores, not only for the clothes, but also for the people.

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH HECKLER

Sisouphanh displays some of the best items outside or in the windows.

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH HECKLER

Located on North Lyman Street, the store is inside a renovated house, which gives it a cozy atmosphere.

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH HECKLER

Trendy Threads carries a wide variety of clothes, shoes and jewelry.

The Garage veins run deep BY KARA FRYMIER

Recently, I had the privilege of having an in-depth conversation with one of the main leaders of a teen organization in Wadsworth, Lou Fister. We had a very deep discussion about the history of the Garage. It first opened Dec. 5, 2005. Simply put, the Garage is an outreach program for teens, designed mainly to help them have fun and see their friends while being helped to find God in the process. Within the Garage there are mini organizations, so yes, the veins of this simple explanation run deep. The clubs include Middle School Garage, High School Garage, The Door Café, Teen Moms, Juvenile Justice and a Sober Group. Fister told me when she first heard the idea of this group, it sounded like something she would love to get involved with. However, she did not want to be the one to talk and reach out to the teens. She wanted to be one to help provide for the organization. Originally, the plan for the Garage was to gather teens and share with them the story of God and just have fun. Little did they know that within a matter of six months, they would have over 100 teens joining them each week.

After explaining this to me, she then exclaimed, “And then, I got hooked!” It all started with 7 kind people with an idea. Throughout the years, they gathered many donations, including what we now call, the Garage. The Garage, itself, is an actual garage that was donated to their efforts. I asked her what she thought compelled these teenagers to attend these groups, and she simply responded, “Acceptance. Everybody is welcome here.” Along the same lines, I had asked her what made her decorate the garage and paint it the way it is. Their goal for the overall look inside of the Garage is to make a place for teenagers to feel comfortable. She said their goal was to make it “look like teenage culture went in there and puked.” Along with running the Garage, this busy woman also manages her family. She told me that the kids at the Garage intertwine with her personal life. She said, “you are not able to truly impact someone unless you get into their personal lives. It does not make sense to separate it.” Overall, she could really only describe this mix by saying, “Loving people is messy.” They average about 30 kids during any given week just at normal High School

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GARAGE

Garage. I asked if she had achieved everything she hoped upon starting the Garage and, shockingly, she told me, “No, you always see the places where there is need. People’s needs are endless.” Relations between the teens and the volunteers are good, for the most part. She said, “They know they are genuinely cared for.” As volunteers come and go, I asked how they managed to get all of their volunteers, and her reply was, “just let people know that the need is there.” She keeps a record of people who showed interest, and when the time is right, she contacts them. She also keeps her volunteers well-informed about volunteering. She makes sure that they are supplied with books, and she finds seminars for them to attend. Overall, the group goes much deeper than what a quick glance can reveal. The main High School Garage is open every Thursday from 6 P.M. until 8:30 P.M. Lou Fister was glad to let me interview her, and I am happy that I also have her in my own life because I am a Garage kid.

C ommunity 2

THE BRUIN

Police officers earn trust BY RACHEL PRESSLEY

Crime in Ohio is all too real. Every 22 seconds, one violent crime is committed. Every 40 minutes, one murder has taken place. People are killed, robbed, stalked and assaulted; the list goes on. Police are here to protect us, so we should respect them, not fear them. Many police officers dedicate their lives everyday to help citizens. They sacrifice their precious time that they could be with their friends and families. Police officers also dedicate their lives to protect us. They go to work everyday having a little thought in the back of their minds that they might not go back home to see their family again. Police officers also spend many hours of the day and night on

the job. They miss many things that people take for granted. For example, many police officers might miss spending holidays with their family. Police officers who have children act differently than other parents. They are more protective because they see all of the bad things that could happen everyday on the job. They may also stress the safety of their children. The way they act at home and on the job are similar. Police officers also use dogs to help them on the job. You may not see many K-9 units out on the streets, but that does not mean that there are not any. Police officers train their dogs to hunt down criminals and to stop them from running away. They also train them to sniff out any drugs. Police officers train

their dogs to be very powerful and smart. When police officers get to work with their dogs, they have to face the fact that there is a chance that the dog might not go home with them. Police officers must have a great bond with their dogs. They have to have the dog’s trust. If you respect and trust the dog, the dog will trust and respect you back. Without trust and respect, it would make the job more difficult. I believe that police officers must use their instincts everyday. They have to trust their gut and go with it. I believe that most police officers have very good instincts. Police officers may look scary, but they are just doing their job. They are still human beings. They are good people. We should not fear, but respect them as humans.

Photo Courtesy of mct campus

Many police officers in the country dedicate their lives everyday to protect citizens. The police officers above discuss a crime scene.

April/May 2014

From seventh grade reading teacher to athletic director in just two years BY MEGAN ANDERSON

Ryan Likens, 27 year old Wadsworth Middle School teacher and athletic director, has come quite far in a short amount of time since he has begun teaching in Wadsworth. Likens learned patience growing up as the older brother to Dustin Likens, his younger brother, who he says aggravated him greatly. During an interview with Likens, he shared that his greatest influence in life was from the widely known television show “Saved by the Bell.” He used to spend his mornings eating cereal and watching the show, while learning life lessons from Zach Morris at the same time. One of his biggest pet peeves as a teacher is when students snap their fingers at him to gain his attention; he also finds it especially annoying when students crack their gum. He also stated, “I can not stand bad drivers, if someone can not drive correctly then they should not be on the road.” Likens has been through many hardships. The loss of his grandparents was very challenging for him to cope with. Although at the same time, the most inspiring aspect to him in life was the relationship that his grandparents had and the way they never stopped loving each other. “I hope to grow up and have something like they had one

day,” Likens said. Although Likens has come pretty far in life already for his young age, he is currently working towards his Master’s degree in order to secure a long term teaching contract at Wadsworth. Likens began teaching in Wadsworth as a seventh grade reading teacher during the year 2011. He moved up with the graduating class of 2016 the next year and became the eighth grade reading teacher. Likens is a great example of a good teacher; we are lucky to have him in Wadsworth. He even said, “I am extremely happy that I got a job at Wadsworth, I truly believe it is a great city and school district.” After the graduating class of 2016 left the middle school, some changes occurred. The school eliminated the reading classes, causing Likens to become a Language Arts teacher. Likens also became the new Wadsworth Middle School athletic director. Likens shared on this opportunity: “I definitely never saw myself becoming the athletic director, I saw myself eventually coaching a sports team but when they asked me to be the athletic director I was ready to take on the new job.” He is very happy to be part of the Wadsworth City School district and feels happy with where he is. Likens is an excellent example of the type of staff we have at Wadsworth.

Wadsworth Chamber Director shares life story By tracey petersen

Photo Courtesy of mct campus

Middle School Principal Eric Jackson jumps right into student discussion.

Jackson steps up this year BY LOGAN HINTON AND SHANNON VOLPE

Previous Central Intermediate School assistant principal, Eric Jackson, decided to switch it up a bit this year by taking on the role of Wadsworth Middle School principal. This was a big change and something that should be recognized in Wadsworth after being the assistant principal at CIS for the previous six years. Jackson said that he had decided to become principal because he has always felt that he put himself in leadership positions growing up. He felt that this would definitely be a big challenge for him and something that he would like to accomplish. He also loves the age group. Changes in student behavior was evident from fifth and sixth grade to seventh and eighth grade. “It made the job easier and adolescence in the students came into play. Also, I knew the kids so it was easier to deal with them”, says Jackson. Now on the discipline side of

things, he says he makes sure rules are followed exactly how they are set. He says if the students show respect it makes it much easier. Jackson says, “If there is a good structure, students thrive better.” The change to WMS principal was just the natural progression, and he felt that it was his time to move up and try out other things in his life, which fits his “live for today” personality. He really loves his current job of being the principal at the Wadsworth Middle School and is “truly blessed to be in a community that values school.” He has also had the chance to accomplish some of his goals and accomplishments that he has aspired to do, like being able to be a principal at the age of 35, and has accomplished something even greater than that: becoming one of the “schools to watch.” “Every year there is a new goal, and each year it will be different,” Jackson says. Which shows all the other great things he has to come for the next school year.

“Happy, fun, and encouraging,” are three words that Janie Parish used to describe herself in a recent interview. Parish was born on April 26 in Wadsworth. She has one daughter, Kim, and two grandchildren, Connor and Weston. She first met her husband when he was dating a friend of hers. When they broke up, he asked Parish out on date, and they have been together ever since. Parish attended Baldwin Wallace College, where she earned a degree in Business Communications. While in college she earned two awards. The first was Owens-Corning Fiberglass and the second was a scholarship for journalism. She has also been awarded as a Woman of Distinction and a Woman of the Community. Parish works in the Wadsworth Chamber of Commerce as the Executive Director. Before her job in the Chamber, she worked in public relations at the Hospice of Medina County. That experience in public relations helps her with her job at the Chamber. She works to promote local businesses and to attract more businesses into the Chamber. Parish’s downtown Wadsworth office has been there since 1865. It was originally used as lodging

Photo by MCt CAMPUS

Janie Parish, Wadsworth Chamber of Commerce Director

Medina County, and the Downtown Wadsworth Inc. In her free time, Parish also likes to spend time with her family and go for bike rides. In the future, Parish plans to retire from the Chamber. In the meantime, however, she hopes to make the Chamber stronger and influence local government more. “It’s all about commitment,” says Parish about her life motto. She is very committed to her family and to her job. Overall, Parish is an amazing woman.

for travelers. When the travelers could not afford to pay for lodging, they would paint a part of a mural on a wall upstairs. That mural is still there today. Parish’s office is also said to be haunted by a 17 year-old boy named Owen, who worked as a porter and died when he fell down the steps. Parish says she wants to someday write a book about all the people who have walked on the floors and looked out the windows of her office. Outside of her work at the Chamber, Parish is also involved in seven different organizations. Some of these organizations include the Wadsworth Independent Business Association, Photo Courtesy of wadsworth chamber of Commerce the Board of Leadership Wadsworth’s new magazine cover features local icons.

18 Stressed out? April/May 2014

Tips to reduce stress during finals HEALTH TIPS BY GARY NOE

Stress is a major player around final exams. Too much of it will more than likely lead to bad scores on the tests. Bad scores on the tests lead to bad summers for students. Here are ten of the best ways to reduce stress. 10. Cut down the Caffeine Students may think that caffeine keeps them awake, but it just adds more sugar into the bloodstream. When they are done studying and go to sleep, they will not be able to relax because of the excess sugar that is in their system. Caffeine is not a good source of energy. In other words, do not drink coffee, pop or energy drinks to stay awake. 9. Take a break A person’s mind can only take so much. The amount of time someone studies is determined by the amount of time one can pay attention. If you study for hours on end without a break, you will remember hardly any of the important information. It may take longer to study, but the time and effort will show on your grade and attitude towards the test before you take it. 8. Laugh it out Take some time to laugh. Laughing not only breaks the silence, but it takes the mind off of things. Find something funny on YouTube. 7. Get enough sleep Sleep is one of the most important things to do when studying. Students do not want to fall asleep during the final. You should get at least eight to nine hours of sleep each night. 6. Find something to take out aggression Students get frustrated with

studying because they cannot figure something out. Do not take it out on family and friends, though. Go work out or go for a run. 5. Eat right Always eat a healthy breakfast. It not only helps a person stay awake, but it keeps the body alert. Do not eat too much or too little because it will slow down the mind and take the focus off of what one is studying. 4. Treat yourself This goes along with taking a break. It makes it easier on the mind to remember what the subject is. Go out to eat with friends or family after studying to get the mind off of the tireless school work. 3. Get in touch with family and friends Ask them what they are doing. It takes the mind off of what you are studying and gives the mind a break. Relaxing the mind is one of the most important things when studying because of the fact that people only remember what they are studying for as long as they are paying attention. 2. Use Social Media outlets With social media, not only can students get in touch with people, they can easily find other studying tools. It also brings fun and entertainment to studying. 1. Do not cram Cramming is one of the worst things students can do. Do not wait until the last minute to study. Leave plenty of time to study. You will not remember half of the stuff you look at if you cram. These tips should help improve grades on the final exams. In addition, it will help students’ social lives because they can now balance school with ` extracurricular activities.

H EALTH

THE BRUIN

Summer Fruit Trifle Recipe

PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

-1 (10 inch) prepared angel food cake, cut into 1 inch cubes -1 (32 fluid ounce) container vanilla yogurt -2 cups sliced fresh strawberries -2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed

Cover the bottom of a large bowl with 1/3 of the angel food cake cubes. Generously cover the cake with 1 1/3 cups yogurt. Spread 1 1/3 cups of the strawberry slices and blueberries on top of the yogurt. Repeat twice with the remaining cake cubes, yogurt, and berries. Serve immediately or chill until needed.

Eskimo Cubes for Summer -2 1/2 cups cubed seeded watermelon -2 1/2 cups cubed cantaloupe -2 1/2 cups cubed honeydew -1 cup frozen raspberries, thawed -1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed -1/4 cup white sugar -1 tablespoon lemon juice PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

1. Blend the watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, raspberries, strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a blender until smooth. 2. Pour the blended fruit juice into molds and cover with aluminum foil; poke a stick into the center. Store in freezer until frozen through, about 4 hours.

How do you study for finals? “I take over the kitchen table, place earbuds in, read over my notes over 1,000 times, and talk to myself...yeah.” -Amanda,12

“I sit under the squat rack and study there.” -Chandler, 12

“I just read over the notes and use note cards.” -Alisha, 10

“I don’t study. #YOLO” -Ellie, 9 “I sit in my room with all my books open and play games on my phone at the same time.” -Janzen, 11

“I look at progress book, find my three lowest grades, then go online to find different study tools.” -Bret, 10

O f T he M onth

THE BRUIN

Students of the Month

April/May 2014

Career Tech Students of the Month

April

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

Matthew

Emily

Favorite Class: AP Calc Future plans: Attend The Ohio State University and major in Biology Favorite Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world,” -Gandhi

Lonnie

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

May

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

Katie

Favorite Class: French 2 Future Plans: Attend Miami University’s Farmer School of Business Favorite teacher: Madame Eaton

May

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

Hannah

Song

“Happy” by Pharrell Williams PHOTO BY OLIVIA FORTNER

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

Tony

App 2048

PHOTO BY OLIVIA FORTNER

Stephanie

Andrea

Future Plans: Attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah In 10 years, I hope to be: I will be far away from here I will miss: TransWadsworthian Hornochestra

Greatest high school memory: Mr. Berg’s Intro to speech class freshman year Advice for underclassman: Work hard now, and you will thank yourself later Future Plans: Attend Ohio Wesleyan University and play volleyball

M o v i e

PHOTO COURTESY OF mct campus

Junk of the Month

Captain America The Winter Soldier

PHOTO COURTESY OF mct campus

PHOTO COURTESY BY SARAH HOFFMAN

Lauren, 12, is the owner of a 2001 Ford Explorer. Angela, as Lauren proudly calls her truck, was purchased off of Craigslist. Problems with Angela start with the muffler, and other parts falling off, but the fun does not end there. “I’ve ran out of gas 4 times and peed my pants in the drivers seat. I never did clean that seat. YOLO,” said Files. “She is the only thing that loves me.” Angela will be heading to the junk yard soon, but she will be greatly missed.

Epner, Albright earn Gold Medals Congratulations to our medalists at the 2014, state Skills USA competition. Gold medalists will represent us at the national competition in June in Kansas City, MO. Students competed against 17 other top level students from around the state on April 15 to earn this honor. PHOTO COURTESY BY MR. SHIPLEY

PHOTO COURTESY BY SARAH HOFFMAN

National qualifiers headed to Kansas City in June

PHOTO COURTESY BY MRS. MATHEWS

Qualified students include: Olivia, 11, Matt, 12, Ryan, 11, Gabe, 12, Dan, 12, Mina, 12, and Christo, 12.

S peakout

THE BRUIN

April/May

Students:

What is your deepest darkest secret?

“I stay up all night honing my twerking skills.” -Daniel, 10

“My twin is prettier than I am.” -Olivia, 9 “My guilty pleasure song is ‘Never Give You Up’ by Rick Astles.” -Craig, 10

“I still listen to Hannah Montana.” -Bayley, 11

Teachers:

“My middle name is actually Kyle.” -Kyle, 9

What is your ideal summer vacation?

“Spending two to three weeks backpacking through Europe with friends and participate in the Running of the Bulls Festival.” -Mr. Stout

“My ideal summer vacation is the next one.” -Mr. Kibler

“Houseboating on a lake in Tennessee for a week with family and my best high school friend.” -Mr. Kaufman

“Two weeks on the beach with family, watching all the kids be kids!!” -Mrs. Csaky